CROSSING THE WILD WAVES (Familiá Altamirano #2)

CHAPTER 29

Not My Room

    NOONG mas lumalim pa ang gabi, nagsialisan na ang mga matatanda. The kids had already gone back to their room. Si Dustin naiwan dito sa baba habang ang mag-ina niya ay dumiretso na sa kwarto.

The reception turned into a bar for an instant. The pop music was booming, and the disco lights glistened throughout the area.

Hinila ni Hunter si Zachariah papunta doon sa isang table kung na saan nakaupo 'yong mga lalaking bisita. Nandoon rin ang mga pinsan ko at ang kapatid niya na tahimik lang sa gilid. Wala yata balak uminom.

Ariella and I just danced to the beat of the music. We were swaying our hips to the music. Sobrang saya! It's like we were back in college and partying at every bar in BGC! 

"Inom pa! Minsan lang 'yan, sulitin niyo na!"

The party was chaotic, but fun! Hindi ko alam kung ilan na ang naiinom ko dahil kada lagok ko ay may panibagong binibigay sa akin. Nahihilo na ako pero sayaw pa rin ako nang sayaw. Wala na ako sa wisyo dahil naghalo-halo na ang mga alak sa sikmura ko. Pakiramdam ko ay wala na akong matatandaan kinabukasan.

"Papi Zach, inom pa! Walang uuwing hindi lasing sa pamilyang 'to!" Malakas na sabi ni Hunter. "Kung hindi mo iinumin 'to, magtatampo ako!"

"The fuck, bro! Stop pouting! Mukha kang hito!" Leoniel muttered, making everyone laughed.

I felt like throwing up when Hazel slightly shook me on my shoulder because her favorite music was playing. 

"Nahilo ako sa ginawa mo!" I complained before I grabbed a cold water from the cooler and drank it in one go.

Nang medyo mahimasmasan, kumuha ulit ako ng isa pang baso at ininom, pero napangiwi nang umakyat lahat sa lalamunan ko 'yong acid. I quickly spit it out on the nearest sink. It tastes awful!

I felt someone caressing my back, making me glance. My vision was blurry, but I could still glimpse Croisx's face. I tapped my mouth using the tissue before facing him.

"I think you already had enough to drink," he says, sounding worried.

I faked an offended expression. "Hindi pa ako lasing," I answered. "Tabi nga!" I dismissed him.

My mood turned sour when I remembered Croisx's worried face. My heart thumps just by thinking of him. Naiinis ako dahil hindi ko talaga maintindihan ang nararamdaman ko kapag nandyan siya. So I grabbed a bottle of Bacardi from the cooler and sneaked outside.

Umupo ako sa buhangin na may bitbit na alak. It's already midnight pero hindi pa tapos uminom ang iba sa loob, halos mga kaibigan ni Zachariah ang naroon. Inayos ko ang pwesto habang nakatanaw sa karagatan. The ocean with its mysterious depths and dark beauty, is a captivating sight.

Naramdaman kong may tumabi sa akin pero hindi ako lumingon. Nakatingin pa rin ako sa dagat, pinagmamasdan ang madilim ngunit nakakalmadong paligid.

Tanging hampas ng alon at hininga namin ang naririnig namin. The waves crashing against the shore create a soothing rhythm, whispering the mysteries of life. Habang tanging liwanag na nagmumula sa buwan sa langit ang naging ilaw namin.

"Aren't you cold?" Suddenly, he broke the silence.

Slowly, I looked at him. "Nope. Since I started living in New York, I got used to cold now," I muttered.

I stiffened when he took off his coat and placed it on my shoulders despite my answer. What a good gesture. Napansin kong hindi niya na suot ang salamin sa mata. I could see his chest from my direction because the four first buttons are opened. Medyo lumilipad din ang buhok niya dahil sa hangin.